Posted on: Saturday, July 24, 2004

Honolulu Bulls reach national soccer final

Advertiser Staff

The Honolulu Soccer Club Bulls '85 team reached the finals of the boys under-19 division of the U.S. Youth Soccer Association National Championships, making history for Hawai'i youth soccer again.

The Bulls defeated Scott Gallagher of Missouri, 3-0, yesterday at Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, Fla.

Satoshi Mitsuda, Justin Kim and Duke Hashimoto scored for the Bulls, who play CASL Elite of North Carolina tomorrow in the championship game.

Mitsuda scored in the 14th minute on a header off a corner kick, Kim scored in the 25th minute on an assist from Brett Shimizu, and Hashimoto scored in the 54th minute on an assist from David Gualdarama.

The Bulls finished with a 2-1 record, with their only loss coming to CASL Elite, to advance out of pool play The pool consisted of regional winners Honolulu (Far West), North Carolina (South), Missouri (Midwest) and Maryland (Region I).

The Bulls were the first team from Hawai'i to win a regional and advance to the national championships, setting a new standard for the 25,000 youth who play soccer in Hawai'i. The Bulls won the USYSA Far West Regionals to reach the nationals.

USYSA, widely considered the most competitive youth soccer league in the nation, has produced U.S. National team and college players.

Boys and girls from California, Alaska, Washington, Oregon, Arizona, Colorado, Wyoming, New Mexico and Hawai'i, in divisions from under-12 to under-19, participated in the Far West Regionals.